Humidifier



` Feb. 21, 1933.

A. MURDOCH ET AL HUMIDIFIER Filed sept. 28,1932.

lancia-075 MMF/Z Horny Patented Feb. 21, 1933 lUNITED STATES.

PATENToFl-ICE HUMIDIFIiiR i i Application led September 28, 1932. Serial I u. 635,191.

Ourinvention relates to improvements in a humidifier and particularly to the type of humidier employing a sheet of pervious material and means for supplying water for moistening the sheet. 4 The object of our invention is toJprovide a humidifier having novel means for maintaining the water in a container at a predetermined level.

A further object is to provide a container which is movably mounted relatively to a valve through which water is supplied tothe container whereby the flow is controlled by the movements of the container relatively to the valve, and provide means for adjusting the position of the container relatively to the valve for accurately .controlling the water level in the container.'

Affurther object is to provide a container with means for pivotally mounting the same at one end thereof and positioning the water supply valve adjacent tothe pivot point of the container for increasing the leverage between the container and the valve actuating mechanism. v Y

A further object is to provide novel means.' for yieldingly` supporting the end of the container opposite to the end which is supported upon the pivotal connection.

A further object is to provide a fixed frame and a container movably mounted relatively to the frame, and mount a valve upon the frame with the outlet of the valve located within the movable container, and

-the valve having a valve stem engaged by the container for controlling the valve.

A further object is to provide a humidifier having a double Walled curtain for increas- 4'0 ing the moisture distributing surface.

These together with various lother novel features of construction and arrangement o'f the parts', which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed, constitute our invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of our novel huniidier, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view online 2 2, Fig. l, drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical, longitudinal section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2. In the drawing in which like reference characters refer to like parts 5 represents our novel humidifier comprising a container 6, having side walls 7 and 8, end walls 9 and 10, and a bottom wall 12, constructed .to form a water-tight container, which is open only at the top. A frame 14 is provided for supporting the container 6. The

frame, `in the form illustrated, consists of a bar which is of angle construction in cross section, comprising avertical member. 15 4and a horizontal member 16. The member 15 lis provided'with elongated slots 17 for 65 bolts 18 for attaching the frame to a support, such as a radiator 2O shown in dot and dash lines.

The container 6 is mounted upon the .frame 14 so that both extend longitudinally 70 1n parallel relation to each other, and the container 6 is movably mounted relatively to the frame. A pivotal connection, formed by a plate 21 is provided between the frame and one end of the container,and a `yield- 75. lng support, formed by plate 22, is provided between the frame and the opposite end of the container. 'Sa-id plates 21 and-22 are arranged so that the container may rotateabout said pivotal connection.y i

The plvotal connection shown, is in the 4 form of a flexible plate 21. On'end ofthe plate .21 1s secured to the end wall 9 of the container and its other end is secured to a block or nut 25,"which is adjustably supyported upon the lframe 14 by 'a bolt 26,

which is in screw threaded engagement with Y the block 25 andthe head end of the bolt passes loosely through an aperture 27 formed inthe horizontal member 16y of the-frame 9 14. A pin 28 is mounted .on the member 16 of the .frame 14 and passes loosely through a hole 29 formed in the block 25. The p1n 28 prevents f the rotation of the block about lthe bolt 26 when the latter is 95 turned to raise or lower the block 25 and the contamer 6 relatively to the frame. A coiled spring 30 embraces the bolt l26 and is po sitioned between the frame and the block and tends to retard the rotation of the bolt in the block and also prevents the bolt from sliding through the aperture 27 formed in the frame.

The yielding support consists of a Hat plate spring 22, secured at one end thereof by fasteningdevices 32 to the member 16 of the frame 14. The container 6 is provided with a plate forming a lip 33 which projects horizontally into the container. The free end of the plate spring 22 projects under the lip 33 andv yieldingly supports one end of the container and holds the same in equilibrium and also permits the container to rotate about its pivotal support formed by the flexible plate 21 located at the end of the container opposite to the yielding support, or spring 122. l

valve assembly comprising a casing 35 is rigidly secured upon the frame 14. The casing is provided with an inlet connection 36 which is connected with a source of continuous water supply by mea-ns of ductile metal tubing 37', which may be readily installed and concealed from view by bending and passing the tubing between the sections of a radiator. The valve casing 35 may include a needle valve 38 for manually controlling the supply of water. N

The valve casing 35 is provided withran outlet tube or nozzle 40 having a 'valve seat 41 located at its'lower end and .having an outlet port 42 formed through. said seat 41; A valve headl 43 is normally held 'closed upon said seat by a spring 44 located within-the outlet tube 40. A valve stem 45 'is secured upon the vhead 43 .and extends through the valve port 42 to a point below` the end of the tube 40 and said stem is positioned to be engaged by the container 6 for opening the valve head 43 when the container is moved upwardly into engaging position with thestem 45, thus lling the container with water. When the water reaches a predetermined level in the container the latter will Ahave moved downward againstthe action of the plate spring 22 until the container is free of the valve stem 45, thus permitting the valve head to be closed by the spring 44 thereby shutting off the How of water to the container. l

The valve casing 35 is located relatively closer to that end of the container 6 which is pivotally supported by the plate 21 than it is to the free end of the container which is supported bythe flat spring 22. By thus locating the valve relatively closer to the fulcrum of the container a greater leverage is obtained. 1

The outlet tube 40 of the valve is positioned within the container' and its outlet end is extended close to the bottom of the container so that the outlet port will be iniis secured to the container 6. The upper portion of the curtain extends into the container so that it will draw water from the container and become saturated by capillary attraction and gravity, thereby moistening the entire curtain.

An accumulator in the form of a tank 48 is suspended upon the lower edge of the curtain for receiving any excess water which `cannot be absorbed by the curtain.

The tank 48 is secured to the curtain by a rod 49 having its ends mounted in the end walls of the tank 48. Said rod is located adjacent to the top of the tank to insure the tanks being held against tilting upon the rod.

The curtain 46 comprises two sheets 50 and 51 which`extend over the opposite side walls of the container 6 and are thus sep- .arated sufficiently to form an air space be.

clamp plate 52 is held adjacent to the bottom wall of the container by spring clips 53 secured to the end walls 9 and 10 of the container. The clipsy normally extend over the ends of the clamp plate 50 so that the clamp plate will press the sheets forming the curtain tightly upon the bottom Wall 12 of the container'. The clamp plate 52 may -be readily removed by pressing upon the clips so that they will release the ends of the clamp plate.

. The interior of the container 6 is made accessible by depressing the end of the container on which the lip 33 is located until the lip is disengaged from the plate 22, so that the container 6 will swing upon the plate 21 whereby the valve 35 is also made accessible.

A cover 55 formed of perforated. walls is provided for enclosing the humidifier. The cover is supported by angle plates 56 secured to the frame 14.

The operation of our improved humidifier is entirely automatic. The flow of water is controlled by the tilting movements of the container which actuate the valve and` maintainv the water at a predetermined level withj in the container. The water is constantly Supplied'to the absorbent curtain. By adjusting the screw 26 the pivot pointof the container may be variedso that the container. will properly actuate the valve, by

the Variations in the weight of the water in the container and the curtain.

' tainer upon the frame whereby the relative i Various changes in the details of construction and the operation of the parts may be made without departing from our invention.

We claim:-

1. In a humidifier, a frame, a valve upon the frame, a container for holding water, a curtain formed of pervious material having a portion thereof secured 4in the container, means yieldingly supporting the conposition of the container to the frame will be varied by the total weight of the water in'the container, and on the curtain, an outletr nozzle upon the valve and extendingV within the container, and a lvalve stem operativelyassociated with the valve and po- 1 sitioned to be engaged by the container for controlling the flow of water through the valve. Y

2. In a humidifier, a frame, a valve upon the frame, a container for holdingwater, a4 curtain formed of pervious material having' a portion thereof secured in the container, means yieldingly supporting the container upon the frame whereby the relative position of the container to the frame will be varied by the total weight of the water in the `container and on the curtain, an outlet nozzle upon the valveiand extending Within the container, a valve stem. located within said 'nozzle and having one end projecting from the latter and positioned to be engaged by the container for controlling the iow of water through the valve.

3. In a humidifier, a frame, a valve casing securedupon the frame, a water supply tube connected with the casing, a container for holding water, a curtain mounted upon the container, means yieldingly supporting the container upon the frame whereby the relative position .of the`co'ntainervto the frame will be varied by the Ltotal weight of the water in the' container and on the curtain, an outlet nozzle upon said casing, said nozzle extendinginto the container, a. valve seat within said nozzle, a valve head, a spring within the nozzle tending to urge the head upon the seat for closing the flow of water through the valve casing, a valve stem upon said head, said stem projecting from the outlet nozzle, and said stem positioned to be engaged by the container when the latter is vmoved'toward the valve casing and arranged forlifting the head from said seat.

4. In a humidifier, a frame, a valve cas- 'ing secured upon said `frame, an inlet connection upon said casing, a tube formed of ductile metal connected with said connection Vand with a source of water supply," a con-l tainer for holding water, a curtain formed of pervious material having one edge por-- the frame whereby the relative position yot' the container to the frame will be varied by the total 'weight of the water in the container and on the' curtain, an outlet nozzle upon the valvecasin and extending within the container, a va ve head within the casing' arranged for controlling the flow of water through the casing, and a valve stem operativelyassociated with said head and with the container.

5. In'a humidier, a frame, a valve casing .secured uponIk said frame, an inlet connection upon said casing, a tube formed of ductile metal connected with said connection and with asource ofwate'r supply, a container for holding water, acurtain formed of'pcrvious material having one edge portion secured 'within the container, means yieldingly supporting the container upon the frame whereby the relative position of the container to the frame will be varied by the total weight v of the waterl in the container and on the curtain, anoutletvnozzle upon the valve casing andextending within the container, said nozzle having an outlet positioned adjacent to the bottom of said container, a valve head within the casing arranged for controlling the iow Aof water throu h the casing, and a valvesteam connecte with said head and extending outwardly through said outlet port of the nozzle and positioned to be engaged lby the tive position of the container will be varied by the total weight of water in the container and on the curtain, and'valve actuatingl means operatively associated with the container and with the valve and arranged for maintaining said total weight constant,`

7. In a humidifier, a rame,'a valve upon the frame, a container for holding water supplied through said valve, a curtain formed of rvious material, a clamp plate of U-shape cross-section located within the container and arranged for clamping the curtain adjacent to bottom of the container,

means yieldingly supporting the container upon the frame whereby the relative position of the container will be varied by the total Weight of water in the container,- and on the curtain, and valve actuating means operatively associated withe container taining said total weight constant.

8. In a humidifier, a frame, a valve upon the frame, a container. for holding water and with the valve and arranged for mainsupplied through said valve,- a curtain formedof pervious materialra clamp plate within the container and arranged for clamping a portion of the curtain within the container, spring clips secured within the container and arranged for detachably engaging the clamp plate, means yieldingly -supporting the container upon the frame whereby the relative position of the container will be varied by the total weight of water in the container and on the curtain,

and means operatively associated with the arranged for supplying water from a source of supply to the container, and a valve stem operatively associated with the valve and .positioned to be engaged by the container for controlling the flow of water through the valve.

10. In a humidifier, a frame, a container.

` positioned in parallel relation with the 'length of the frame, a pivotal Supportbetween the frame vand one -end of 'the container, said pivotal support 4being ixed relatively to the frame, a spring upon the frame and operatively associated with the opposite end of the container and arranged for yieldingly supporting the last mentioned end of the container, a valve upon the frame controlling the supply of water from a source of supply to the container, a valve stem operatively associated with the valve and positioned to be engaged by the container for controlling the fiow of Water through the valve, and said valve stem located relatively closer to said pivotal connection than to said spring forming said' latter.

yielding connection whereby the container will have an increased leverage action upon said stem.

11. In a humidifier, a frame, a container positioned in parallel relation with the length Iof the frame, a pivotal connection between the frame and one end ofthe container, a lip located` upon the container at the opposite end of the latter relatively to said pivotal connection, a plate spring secured at one end thereof to the frame and having its opposite end detachably engaged with said lip, a valve for controlling the supply of water from a source of supply t the container, and valve actuating means operatively associated with the container and said valve and actuated by the moveporting the latter relatively to the` frame,

means forming a pivotal connection between one end of the container and said block, means forming a yielding support between tainer, a valve mounted upon the'frame, for controlling the iow` of water from a source of supply to the container, valve actuating means associated with the valve and with the container, and a curtain formed of pervious material having avportion thereof positioned in the container.

13. In a humidifier, a frame, 'a container positioned in parallel -relation with the length of thev frame, a block adjustably mounted upon the' frame, a flexible plate having one end secured to said block and its opposite end secured to one end of the container, a plate spring secured to the frame and detachably secured to the end of the 'container opposite to `said flexible plate,

the frame and the opposite end of the con- '75 a curtain, means upon the container for securing one portion of the curtain within the container, a valve' mounted upon said frame Ifor controlling vthe flow of water from a source of supply to the container and valve actuating mechanism operatively associated with the valve and the container.

' 14. In a humidifier, a frame, a container for holding water, a pivotal connection between the frame and oneend of the container, a yielding connection between the frame and the opposite end of the container, two sheets of pervious material secured within the container and depending from opposite sides of the container in spaced relation to each other,` a rod sup- Iported by the lower portions of said sheets,

an accumulator tank supported upon said rod, a valve vfor controlling the flow of I,water to the container, and valve actuating mechanism operatively associated with the l container and the valve for actuating the Inl testimony whereof, we aiiix our signatures.

` ALEXANDER MURDOCH.

ALEXANDER M URDOCH, JR. 

